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Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders: 4-day itinerary

A group of people stand and sit on the cliffs at St Abb’s Head.
From Georgian grandeur in Edinburgh’s New Town to a living museum of Victorian printing in Innerleithen, there’s so much to discover in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders. We’ve made it easy for you to plan your trip with a 4-day itinerary, so you don’t miss anything!

Day 1

Start off in Edinburgh’s stunning New Town by visiting the magnificently restored Georgian House. Then leave the hustle and bustle of the city for the tranquil oasis of Malleny Garden, before finishing the day with a stroll around the beautiful grounds of the 17th-century House of the Binns.

The Binns Tower stands on top of a hill by the House of the Binns A view of the exterior of the Georgian House in Charlotte Square, seen from the gardens. Crocus flowers bloom in the foreground. The house has a blue front door, that almost matches the sky! A wooden harpsichord stands in a grand drawing room, with gilt-framed paintings on the wall behind. A stool sits before the harpsichord and sheet music rests on top. A gravel path runs through a garden, bordered by colourful flower beds either side. Large and very tall yew trees stand either side of the end of the path. Purple alliums and white flowers stand in front of the Malleny Garden landscape, with the glasshouse seen in the background. The exterior of the House of the Binns, with a carpet of pale yellow daffodils on the lawn in front.

Day 2

Continue your trip with a morning visit to the peaceful, hillside Inveresk Lodge Garden, before spending the afternoon at the captivating Newhailes House & Gardens.

A view of the Weehailes playpark, showing purple playhouses, a zipline and a large sand pit. In the background are wooden walkways. Purple alliums grow in the foreground, with Inveresk Lodge standing in the background. A viewing platform looks over the pond in Inveresk Lodge Garden A view of the grand exterior of Newhailes House from the gravel drive. Cherry blossom trees frame the shot.

Day 3

Your third day begins with a glorious morning walk across St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve, finishing off with a fascinating tour of the picturesque Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot, which featured in the hit TV series Outlander.

The image shows the top half of a water wheel, attached to the side of a red stone building. A group of people stand and sit on a cliff top. In the background are dramatic cliffs and a blue sea, with white waves crashing against the rocks. Preston Mill is surrounded by grass meadows. It has orange stone walls with a conical roof, that leans slightly to the side.

Day 4

Finish off your trip around Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders with a morning stroll through the beautiful Harmony Garden and Priorwood Garden, followed by an unforgettable experience at the fantastic Robert Smail’s Printing Works.

Purple Sweetpeas grow in the foreground at Harmony Garden, with the glasshouse and other garden buildings seen in the background. A view of Melrose Abbey from Harmony Garden. A stone path weaves through the garden, with colourful flowerbeds either side. Priorwood Garden with apple blossom in foreground and the house in the background An orchard on a sunny day, with picnic tables. A view of the caseroom at Robert Smail's Printing Works. A cloth hammer lies on type of a case of set type in the foreground. In the background are many shelves filled with pieces of type.

Featured Places

The workshop at Robert Smail's. A beamed roof lets in light, and the workshop is crammed with letterpress machinery and tools, some hanging from above. A man leans on a rail.
Place

Robert Smail’s Printing Works

Oldest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK – a living museum of Victorian history

Scottish Borders

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